Wedge fastener for tool-handles



J. S. JOHNSTON.

WEDGE FIVTENER FOR TOOL HANDLES.

APPLICATION mm MAR. 18. 1919.

.1 ,343,781 Patented June 15, 1920.

wuento'a al bozweq UNITED STATES JOHN SPENCER JOHNSTON, F ETIWANDA,CALIFORNIA.

WEDGE FASTENER FOR TOOL-HANDLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June-15, 1920.

Application filed March 18, 1919. Serial No. 283,394.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN SPENCER JOHN- STON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Etiwanda, in the county of 'San Bernardino and Stateof California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inWedge Fasteners for Tool-Handles, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to devices adapted for securing wood members inother members, such as the handles of hammers, sledges, axes, and thelike, and which may also be employed for securing wood members of otherforms in metal members of various forms.

For the purpose of illustration the improved device is shown applied toan ordinary hammer head and its wood handle, and has for one of itsobjects to provide a simply formed device which effectually prevents thehandle from working loose, or becoming separated from the head or bodyin which it is inserted.

Other objects, as well as the nature, characteristic features and scopeof this invention will be readily apparent from the fol lowingdescription taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings and polnted out in the claim, forming a part of this specification.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich,

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the device applied to aconventional hammer.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the hammer head showing thedevice arranged between the head and the handle and in elevation,

Fig. 3 is a perspective detail of the fastener when detached, and

Fig. 4: is an elevation view of the same.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the abovedescribed views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now, more particularly, to the accompanying drawings there isillustrated a handle 1 which has mounted on one end thereof a tool head2 in the present instance in the form of a hammer whi].earranged between one face or side of the handle and the adjacent side of theopening through. the head is the improved fastener designed to preventaccidental displacement of the head from the handle.

The improved device formed from a single strip of resilient strap metalwhich is folded upon itself to provide juxtaposed portions 3 and 4:, theportion 3 being shorter than the portion 4; and is formed on its upperend with a plurality of upwardly and outwardly inclined teeth 5 adaptedfor biting engagement with the handle when the device is arrangedbetween the head and the handle. The other portion 4 terminates in alaterally and outwardly extending and thickened retaining flange 6. Thisflange is preferably provided by rolling the terminal portion of thetool head engaging portion 4: upon itself and subsequently fiatteningthe same as shown in Fig. 3.

At the junction of the portions 3 and 4 the strip is rounded to producean enlargement, as shown at 7 in Figs. 2 and 3.

In applying the device in position on either an old or a new handle theportion 4 is inserted in the opening in the tool head 2 with the flange6 engaging the outer edge of the head and the enlargement extendin overthe inner edge of the opening with the spurs or teeth 5 intermediate theopening. The handle 1 is then inserted in the opening in the tool headand forced into the opening to cause it to assume the position indicatedin Figs. 1 and 2, one side of the handle engaging the portion 3 whileowing to the resiliency of the material and the snug fitting of thehandle in the opening in the head the teeth 5 will bitingly engage thehandle for anchoring the fastener to the handle while the flange 6 andthe enlargement 7 operates to retain the head against displacement. Itis to be also observed that the intermediate enlarged portion 7 of themetal from which the fastener is formed is positioned beyond the inneredge of the head and serves to coact with the flange in maintaining thehead against movement in either direction.

It is believed in view of the foregoing description that a furtherdetailed description of the operation of the invention is entirelyunnecessary. Likewise, it is believed that the advantages of theinvention will. be readily apparent.

Still further embodiments of the invention than those herein especiallydefined may be resorted to as conditions or preference may dictate, asmay be in keeping with the hereto appended claim.

Having thus fully described the invention tool the lateral offset andthe enlargement what is claimed as new and desired to be will bear overthe body of the tool at the secured by Letters Patent 1 's: ends of theaperture and coact to prevent A holding device formed of a striphavdisplacement of the handle when forced 5 ing a lateral oli set at oneend and laterally into the aperture in engagement with the 15 directedspurs at the other end and bent holding device. upon itself intermediatethe ends with the In testimony whereof, I affix my signature material ofthe strip curved at the bend to hereto. form an enlargement, wherebywhen in- 10 serted in the handle receiving aperture of a JOHN SPENCERJOHNSTON.

